Giving an opioid liquid for pain with a dose calculation
NZ nursing OSCE practice station
Medication administration · 2 min to read · 8 min to perform
Alofa Tuilagi, aged 78, had a bowel resection two days ago.
Alofa TuilagiMy tummy is very sore. Could I have something, please?
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Open the full station (charts, voice, result letter) →The task
You are the nurse on a surgical ward. Alofa Tuilagi, aged 78, had a bowel resection two days ago. She has asked for something for her pain. Her medicine chart is provided. A second nurse is available as a checker when you ask. Introduce yourself, confirm her identity, check the chart and her pain and safety, work out the volume of liquid to draw up, and explain what you are giving and why. Record your calculation and checks on the form provided.
What this station tests
- Always check identity, allergy, order and time since the last dose before giving a medicine.
- Show your working: dose needed divided by stock strength times stock volume.
- Check respiratory rate and sedation before and after an opioid.
- Controlled drugs need a second nurse check and a register entry.
- Medsafe and the NZ Formulary are the reference sources for medicine information.
Sources for the clinical content
An original practice scenario with invented patients. Not an exam question.